Centrifugal well pump



I May 18,1926.' 1,585,378

-J. F. DENISON CENTRIFUGAL WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 31 1923 T q T 38 INVENTOR x .1; v 3 33 12 3+ 3 j 7-2 l p h ATT RNEY 44 BY 35 4o- QM Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,585,378 PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN F. DENISON', OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CENTRIFUGAL WELL PUMP.

' Application filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 616,015.

' its object to simplify the operation of the a pump in the hands of the user, and to provide other objects as will appear in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whlchz Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one form of installation employing a pump of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an elevation, partly in section, of one form of pump; and

Figure 3 is a section taken on a l1ne 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown diagrammatically a source of fluid such as a well 10, anoutlet or discharge faucet 11 for controlling the flow of fluid and positioned above the level of the well 10, as 1n a building 12; together with interconnecting piping and controlled mechanism as Wlll be described.

The bore of the well and the pumping mechanism may, if desired, be protected by a suitable casing, such as 20, preferably having a removable cover 21 and an inspection window or orifice 22. The pumping mechanism may be positioned immediately above the well as shown, or may be located in the cellar or basement of the building 12, or in any other desirable position as may be required. The pumping mechanism may comprise a base or supporting member 23, formed of a metal casting or the hke and having an upwardly extending cylindrical portion 24 provided with a separable element 25. The upper end portion 26 of the element 25 is preferably of restricted diameter as shown in Figure 2.

For supporting parts of the pumping mechanism, there is provided a collar 31 which extends downwardly from the base member 23 and is secured thereto in any desired manner as by a plurality of cap screws 30. The collar 31 is provided with a flange 32 at its lower extremity. Secured to the flange 32 in any desired manner is a casing 33 constructed so that there 1s formed by it in combination with the flange 32, an impeller chamber 34, which may be of circular or volute shape, as illustrated in Figure 3. The lower end of the casing is extended downwardly a suitable distance to form a hub or shoulder 35. The shoulder 35 is arranged for the reception of an inlet pipe 36 in any suitable manner, as for example, screw-threaded thereto, or by being provided with a flange connecting coupling. The casing 33 is provided with a single lateral hollow extension 37 at its outer end which is arranged for the reception of a suitable outlet pipe 38 in any desired manner, as for example, by being screw-threaded thereto, or by being rovided with a flange connecting couphng.

The intake pipe 36 extends downwardly into the source of supply 10 and the outlet pipe 38 extends to any desired point, such as the building 12. At the bottom of the pipe 36, or at least below the surface of the liquid in the well 10, there is provided a check valve 39 constructed to permit the flow of liquid in an upward direction, but

to prevent the flow back toward the source.

For pumping liquid upwardly through the pipe 36 and for forcing it outwardly through pipe 38, there is provided a rotatable impeller 40. The impeller comprises a disc or wheel having its plane of rotation substantially horizontal, within the circular chamber 34, and having a downwardly extending hollow hub 42 and a vertical extension 43 in axial alignment therein. Communicating with the interior passage of the hub 42, there is provided a suitable plurality of horizontal fluid passages such as 44 (see Figure 3).- In the present embodiment eight such passages are illustrated, but it is understood that any desired number or any suitable construction may be employed. The impeller is rotatable, centrally supported by suitable bearings 45 and 46 engaging'respectively hub 42 and extension 43.

For driving the impeller 40 there is provided 'a suitable electric motor 50 positioned within the casing element 2425 and having its shaft 51 in substantial vertical alignment with the center line of the hub 42 and extension 43. The upper end of the shaft 51 is rotatably supported in a combined ball and thrust bearing 52 positioned within the upwardly extending end portion 26- of the motor casing. A suitable blind plug 53 may positioned operation of the mechanism, as will be subsequently set forth, there is provided a circular deflector 60 secured to the extension 4-3 in any appropriate manner, as for example, by means of a set screw (not shown) at a point above the upper end of the bearing 46. For permitting the escape of the deflected water from within the chamber formed by the collar 31 and the flange 32, there is provided an outlet spout 61. The

inner opening of the spout 61 is preferably just below the level of the deflector 60, and the spout 61 is preferably inclined so as to permit the flow of fluid in an outward direction. In this manner the fr ction of a stutflng box is avoided, and the liquid leaking through the bearings -15 and 46 provides suflicient lubrication.

The arrangement is such that there is normally an upward thrust on the shaft 51 and the impeller mechanism secured thereto and the upper outer face of the impeller wheel 40 is proportioned that an etl'ective seal is obtained at the point designated 71 in Figure 2. It will be clear from an examination of Figure 1, that there is normally a pressure within the impeller chamber, the pressure being caused by the head of water in the connection 82-a11d storage tank 80, as will be subsequently set fortlnit being noted that the check valve 39 is utilized to maintain this head or pressure. This pressure tends to force the tapered upper face 70 of the wheel 40 into the bearing 4 6i The upper face 70 is tapered to form a cone or circular wedge, and this is wedged by the fluid pressure into the bearing. Thus in the normal or resting position the escape of fluid through the hearing 46 is effectively prevented. Upon rotation of the motor, however, a c ounterthrust V V "sary to guard against escape'ot' the'fluid bemg pumped. Thus a considerable saving in 1 is set up by the weight of the parts and the suction eflect at the inlet so as to break this seal and thus some of the fluid escapes through the opening between the inner wall of the bearing 46 and the outer surface of the extension 43. The bearings 52 are preferably of the tight loose type to permit of this limited vertical movement, at the same time permitting rotary movement of the shaft. The fluid flows into the chamber formed by the collar 31 and the flange 32. Such escaping fluid provides sufficient lubrication for the bearing 46, but is deflected however, and prevented from reaching the motor parts. A deflector '60 directs the discharge of escaping fluid through the discharge spout 61 and thence back to the source of supply 10, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

hen it is desired to store the liquid pumped out from the source 10, there may be provided a storage tank 80 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. At or near the upper portion of the tank there may be provided a suitable circuit controlling mechanism operated by means of an automatic diaphragm switch 81. A suitable connec tion 82 may be provided between the faucet ll and the tank 80. The motor 50 is connected by means of insulated conductors 83-8 l in series with the control switch Sl and a suitable source of energy which may be a generator 85 located at a distant generating station. If desired, a hand-operated switch of ordinary construction may be used in place of the automatic switch S1.

In operation, when the pressure in the tank 80 falls below a predetermined amount the switch 81 is operated and the source of electric energy 85 is connected thereby to the motor 50. The. motor rotates in the usual manner and drives the impeller wheel 40. The motor is suitably ventilated in any appropriate manner. The suction caused by rotation of the impeller wheel draws the fluid from the source 10 upwardly through the pipe 86 and the valve 39, and also forces the fluid through the pipe 38 and into the tank 80. The seal 71 is opened as has been described, but the fluid which leaks therefrom is deflected by the deflector 60 and by way of the spout 61 or a suitable pipe, back to the source, or wasted. The operation of themotor continues until the pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined maximum limit whereupon the switch 81 is opened and the motor stopped. The tank 80 is posi tioned above the level of the impeller chamber 34 and the upward thrust of the impeller wheel hub 43 closes the seal 71 and prevents undesired escape of fluid while the motor is inactive.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a well pump which may be easily manufactured'at relatively low cost, it being unnecesmanutacturing costs can be effected. lVhile the pump is at rest no liquid can escape, the seal being provided in a simple andinexpensive way. While the pump is in operation some of the liquid 18 allowed to flow back to the well, but this does no harm and the amount of such liquid flowing back is relatively small as compared with the output. The leakage of this fluid when the motor is running provides for efl'ective lubrication of the bearing, and this feature is of importance as the use of oil or grease as a lubricant would spoil drinking water or might adulterate other fluid being pumped.

The pump is particularly well adapted for use in shallow wells and can be operated with extremely high efficiency. Therefore, the size of the motor required for driving the pump can be considerably reduced and the amount of electric energy consumed reduced proportionately.

l/Vhile I have shown and described-and a base member of a downwardly extending collar having one end secured thereto, an

impeller chamber secured to the other end of said collar, an impeller positioned with in the said chamber, a shaft operatively con nected with said impeller and extending through the collar, and a bearing for said shaft positioned within said collar, said chamber having a port of entry and a port of discharge to conduct liquid thereto and therefrom, said impeller having one portion formed to engage with said bearing effectively to prevent leakage from said collar when the motor is idle. v

2. In awell pump, means for pumping .a liquid, a bearing member for said pump- -1ng means arranged to be lubrlcated by liquid leaking therethrough, a conducting passage for discharging liquid leaking through the pump bearing during operation said pumping means normally making intimate contact with said bearing member for automatically preventing escape of-the,

liquid when the pump is idle.

A Well pump system comprising pump-' ing mechanism, having an escape passage for by-passing some of the fluid pumped thereby whereby to lubricate said mechanism by said fluid, and having an operating member, a storage tank positioned above the level of the operating member of the pump, con ducting means extending into the well and arranged to conduct fluid to the pump mechanism, and a check valve in series with said conducting means for preventing escape of fluid from the storage tank to the well while the pump is inactive, the operating mem her being acted upon by pressure of fluid normally contained within the system to close said escape passage.

4. A well pump system comprising pumping mechanism, having an escape passage for by-passing some ofthe fluid pumped thereby whereby to lubricate said mechanism by said fluid, and having an operating member, a storage tank positioned above the level of the pumping mechanism, and a one way valve below the level of the pumping mechanism to trap liquid in the system, said mechanism includlng an operating member having a tapered portion to close said. escape passage for normally sealing the pumping mechanism against escape of liquid from the tank said passage being automatically opened upon movement of the pumping mechanism for permitting escape of fluid therethrough.

5. A well pump system comprising pumping mechanism, a storage tank positioned above the level of the operating member of the pump, conducting means extending into the well and arranged to conduct fluid to the pump mechanism, and a check valve in series With said conducting means for preventing escape of fluid from the storage tank to the well while the pump is inactive, said mechanism including a movable member having a tapered portion engaging a relatively stationary part of the mechanism and means for normally sealing the pumpi ing mechanism against escape of liquid from the tank, said mechanism having a passage for fluid automatically opened upon movement of the pumping mechanism for permitting escape of fluid therethrough. I

6. A centrifugal well pump comprising a rotatable impeller having a disc portion pro-. vided with radial passages, a hub portion having a bore communicating sages and with the suction inlet of the pump, and having a second oppositely disposed hub portion for driving the disc, and a bearing for supporting the last named hub portion arranged to permit leakage of liquid to lubricate the bearing.

7. A centrifugal well pump comprising an impeller having a rotary movement and a linear movement, a bearing for supporting the impeller and arranged to be lubricated by escapethrough the bearing of -a portion of the fluid being pumped, a conducting passage forming the outlet'of the pump and placed under pressure by rotary movement of the impeller, and a second condueting passage communicating with the bearing for the escape of lubricating fluid, the fluid )assage through the bearing being controlled y linear movement of the impeller.

Signed at New Haven in the county of New Haven and State of Conn. this 29th day of Jan, 1993.

with said pasllO 

